A/N: Remember, ---o--- means change in setting or point of view ;)

And, I know I just said that this morning (to some of you) that I'll be busy and may not be able to update soon because of the work load that was just given me this morning, but since I can't concentrate too much on work at this hour, I decided to edit this chapter (hey, I'll bring the work at home so the time will be compensated. It wouldn't be fair if I don't replace the time I used for other matters, right?).

I'm sure no one will complain, quite the contrary I suppose.

Imagine my surprised when I checked my mail this morning and saw lots of reviews. This is the first time, honestly, that I immediately received lots of reviews in less than 24 hours after posting (maybe because you're getting impatient with me haha;) and I'm quite excited (maybe that's why I can't concentrate on work haha just kidding. I can't concentrate on work because I'm so tired and all I can think is rest, and rest, and rest, so it's better for me to work later at night, after I got some rest).

Ayou – I agree with you. I'm quite lazy to logged-in, too, so unless I have to post something or I have to reply to the reviews, then I don't.

Fishautumn – it's Sachiko and our not-so-mysterious Aya catching a glimpse of each other and… well, I can't explain further because I might reveal something that is reserved for the next chapters so please be patient ;) and sorry about the confusion :)

Gia0615 – sorry about that. I'm quite a tease and I'm sure many have noticed that ;) Please don't be so hard on Sachiko, she's been through a lot. Gusto ko mag-explain kaya lang baka masagot din ng ibang chapters ang sinabi mo so i-reserved na lang natin doon ;)

Chapter 11. Meeting?

"I'm going," Sachiko said firmly, and saw the old man's eyes turned into slits in anger.

"Send someone from your company and do what I said," the old man repeated.

"There's nothing you could say that would stop me from going, Grandfather, unless you gave me some good reasons to not go," she said, standing to her words.

"You have to attend the company's board meeting instead of having to travel that long just for a small time deal."

Anger rose inside her, but she remained calm.

"I told you already, I'm not going to attend to that meeting, Grandfather. You would be there already, and Father, too. There's no need for all three of us to be there. The presence of the two of you is more than enough."

The old man wanted to say more when a knock at his office' door stopped him.

"What?!" He snapped at his secretary who cringed in fear.

"I'm going, Grandfather."

She didn't wait for her grandfather to answer. After a slight bow, she turned and headed to the door. She couldn't understand why he's stopping her from going to Kobe. Even if the reason to stay was good enough and she could just send one of her staffs to Kobe, she still wanted to go there herself. She couldn't understand why, but there's something that seemed to pull her towards that place.

And besides, she also wanted to oppose her grandfather so she would go.

---o---

Sachiko frowned at the back of a young man talking to someone at the other side of the hallway near the elevator for even floor numbers. Somehow, he looked familiar.

"This way, Ogasawara-sama," her business associate said.

As she turned to follow her business associate to the elevator for odd floor numbers, she caught a glimpse of the man's face.

She stopped in her tracks.

She had seen that face before, a face that was so similar to…

He looked like Yumi's brother. Older and more mature and yet there's no mistaking those soft, brown eyes that were similar to her. The boy who looked so much like her sister.

She was frozen in place as her heart beat really fast.

Was it really him?

Instead of going to the elevator, she changed direction and headed to the man who looked like Yumi's brother. But she hadn't made a few steps yet when the man turned and stepped to the elevator. Unless she would scream at him to stop, she would never reach him.

She stood there, torn between doing unladylike thing and letting him away. Before she could decide, the man was already in the elevator and she knew that she was too late.

"Ogasawara-sama, are you alright?"

She cleared her throat and tried to calm herself.

"Yes, thank you for asking. I just thought I saw someone whom I used to know."

It was silly of her, she thought. It couldn't be possible that it's Yumi's brother. His family was in the US, not in Kobe.

But for a moment, she really thought that it was him.

Granted that it's him, then what would she say to him?

Would she greet him like nothing happened?

And what would be his reaction?

She's sure that he and his parents were mad at her, because if not for her, Yumi would still be here.

Yes.

If Yumi hadn't met her, if she didn't made Yumi her petite soeur, if she didn't fell in love with Yumi, and most importantly, if she didn't come to Yumi that day, then Yumi would still be with them, laughing with them, loving them.

She hadn't forgiven herself yet of the accident.

Yes, she's still blaming herself, even if she knew that Yumi wouldn't blame her.

So many times that she wished that it was her and not Yumi who died in that day. If it was her, then she wouldn't be suffering like this.

And more people would be happier because of Yumi's presence.

Yes, it would have been better if she had died that day and Yumi lived.

---o---

Where was that person, a beautiful brown-haired woman thought, a bit annoyed that the person she was supposed to meet hadn't showed up yet. She's been in this restaurant for an hour. They were supposed to have lunch here. It would be his treat for their new project.

She gazed around once again, trying to entertain herself at the sight of the place and at the people coming in and out.

Another 15 minutes had passed and still no sign of the person she's waiting for.

After gazing at the entrance door one more time and still no sign of him, she picked her shoulder bag and headed to the rest room to freshen up. If he hadn't show up yet when she got back, she'll leave.

---o---

Once inside the restaurant where she and her business associate will have lunch, she decided to go to the rest room first to compose herself.

She was already near the door to the rest room and she could hear someone inside talking, seemingly annoyed by the tone of her voice.

She frowned.

Somehow, the voice seemed familiar even with the slight American accent.

And the voice was getting nearer.

Her frown not leaving her, she opened the door just as it was opened, too, from the inside and before she could avoid it, the person from inside collided to her, sending her mobile phone flying to the floor. She lost her balance at the impact, and so was the person who bumped into her. In their attempt to balance themselves, they held onto each other.

Once steady on her feet, she raised her head and started to apologize.

"…"

She blinked, her apology got stuck in her throat as her eyes settled on the apologizing and worried face of the woman in front of her. Her eyes went wide, her hands started to tremble as they tightened on the woman, and she could feel blood rushing to her head.

---o---

'Oh no, I must have hurt her bad,' the woman thought. Her surprised was overcome with worry when the eyes of the black-haired woman in front of her gone impossibly big, and before she could say anything, the woman swayed.

'Oh no, she's going to collapse,' she screamed in her mind as she tried to held onto the woman who's starting to fall over.

A/N: I know it's short just like the last chapter, but I promised that we're going steady towards the end of the story ;)

Let me attest/repeat this fact – I am a tease. Right, Spikesagitta? ;)

---Arvendell---

07 October 2008

3:50 PM